Coin-controlled machine.



J. A. WEBSTER.

COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE. APPLlcAUoN man Auc.29. 1908.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. A. WEBSTER.

COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE.

APPLlcATloN FILED Ana-29. i908.

Patente Febe 19, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l A WEBSTER COlN CONTROLLED MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.29, i908. Lga, Patented 161.1111918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNTTD STATS PATENT FBTO.

JOHN A. WEBSTER, OF WEST HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY IVIESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO AUTOSALES GUM .AND CHOCOLATE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

Application led August 29, 1908. Serial No. 450,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. WEBSTER, a citizen of the United States, and a residentl of West Hoboken, county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coin controlled machines designed and adapted for dispensing or vending articles of lnerchandise. In the particular form in which the invention is shown in the drawings, the machine is constructed and arranged for dispensing small tablets or packages such as chewing gum, chocolates, bonbons, etc.

The invention consists of the various features and combinations of features hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In its preferred embodiment, the machine is reversible in form, having two separate magazines for holding the articles to be dispensed and two coin chutes. one chute for each magazine. The coin chutes open on opposite sides or edges of the machine. Thus, the machine is adapted to be attached to the backs of car-seats and may be operated with equal facility before or after the seat back is reversed. one coin chute being in position to receive the coin for the operation of the machine when the seat back faces in one direction and the other coin chute being in position to receive the coin for the operation of the machine when the seat back is reversed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which like reference numerals designate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with parts broken awavvto show various features and some of which are located on different horizontal planes;

Fig. 2 is a section of the assembled machine on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bottom plate with its associated parts:

Fig. 4- is a top plan view of the lower intermediate plate with its associated parts;

F i2. 5 is a bottom plan view showing a pusher hereinafter referred to;

Fig'. 6 is a. sectional elevation of the pusher; and

Figs. 7, S and 9 are sectional views showing details.

Referring now to the particular machine shown in the drawings, l is the bottom plate of the machine having,` parts in relief so as to provide the oppositely located coin chutes 2 and 3 and the oppositely located coin receptacles 4- and 5. 6 is a rotatable coin receiver which rotates against the upper face of the bottom plate 1. I-t has two recesses and is centrally located between the two coin chutes. It is carried on a 'spindle 7 which projects upward from the bottom plate and is provided with a hand wheel 8 exposed on the outside of the casing. 9 is a lower intermediate plate which rests upon plate 1. 10 is an upper intermediate plate which rests upon plate 9 and 11 is the top plate of the casing having two lugs 13 at one end and two lugs 14 at the opposite end which enter recesses at the ends of plate 10 so as to hold these plates together. Plates 1, 9 and 10 are. fastened together by six screws 15, 16, 17. 1S, 19 and 20. the heads of these screws beine: countersunk in plate 10 and covered by the top plate 11. Ilate 9 is pravided with four openings 21, 22. 23 and 2J: which register with but are a little larger than the openings which receive lugs 13 and 14 so as to provide room for the lugs 13 and 14. The upper plate 11 is secured in place bv a locking lug which will be hereinafter described. 25 and 26 are two pushers which work in magazines 27 and 28. respectivelv. carried on the upper face of plate 10. Each magazine is formed by brazing or otherwise securing to the plate 10 two U- shape pieces such as 29 and 30. These magazines are arranged to receive flat, oblong packages standing on end and placed side bv side in a magazine and forward of vthe pusher. As the pusher 25 advances one step, it moves just far enough to push out of the ma .fra zine 27 one tablet or package which then falls into the delivery chute 31 from which it escapes through the exit opening 32. This delivery chute 31 is formed in the space between plates 10 and 11 and bv the curved flange 33 secured to plate 11. The exit opening 32 is provided between the flange 33 and the end of Hangs 34. This flange 3T is formed on the under side of plate 11 and surrounds one side and a part of one end of a rectangular opening 35 in the top plate 1l.

Flange 33 is continuous with a flange similar to 34 and said flange surrounds the side and part of the end of opening 35 opposite to y34. It will be thus seen that the openvfor advancing the pusher step by step upon each operation. In the'preferred arrangement, this is done by an actuator in the form of a reciprocating notched bar or rack bar 41 which works in a recess 42 formed in the upper side of'plate 9vand beneath the pusher 25. 'Ihe rack bar 41 isguided in its movement by a pin 43 secured to the plate 9 and which enters the slot Y44 eut in the rack l bar. The recess 42 is considerably wider 'than the rack bar 41 and its wall facing the rack bar 41 is provided with notches similar to those formed in the rack bar. Thus there is provided a fixed rack 60 on plate 9, the notches in the latter being slightly staggered with reference to the notches in the former. The rack bar 41 is provided with a retraetile spring 45 by means of which the bar is moved back into its normal position, shown in Fig. 4, after each forward movement. The pusher piece 40 on its under side carries two pawls 46 and 47 which are pressed apart by a spring` 48. 49 is a lever secured to the top of plate 9 by a pivot pin 50 and having its upward end entering the notch 51 cut in the rack bar 41. This lever carries a roller 52 which projects below the plate 9 vthrough slot 53. 54 is a locking lever resting on the top face of plate 9 and arranged to normally engage a notch 55 in rack bar 41. This lever works on the pivot pin 56 secured to plate 9 and carries a roller 57 which projects through the slot 58 below the surface of plate 9. 59 is a spring to press the lever into the notch 55. Levers 49 and 54 work in recesses formed in plate 9. lVhen a coin is inserted in the coin slot 2, it is first caught by the coin receiver 6. then the hand wheel 8 is turned'to the right and the coin, resting in a recess of the receiver 6, is carried first against the roller 57 to unvlock the rack bar 41, and then against they roller 52. IVhen it moves against the roller 52, it throws this lever over to the right and thereby shifts the rack bar 41 to the right. The movement of lever 49 begins before the com has passed out of engagement with the i roller 57. After rack bar 41 has completed its movement to the right. the coin slips by the roller 52 and enters the coin receptacle 5. Spring 45 thereupon retracts rack bar 4,1

to its initial position. SlotY 39 is provided with notches 61 and 62 at one end to permit the insertion and removal of pusher 25. IVhen magazine 27 is full, pusher 25 is at the left end of the magazine and behind the last package in the line. When the pusher is in this position, pawl 46 is in engagement with the iirst notch at the left end of rack bar 41 and pawl 47 rests against an unnotched portion ofrack 60. lVhen, now, a coin has been deposited and receiver 6 is turned to the right, rack bar 41 carries the pusher 25 forward one step to eject the package and until pawl 47 enters the first notch at the left end of rack 60. The coin then drops out of the receiver' and permits the 'rack' bar 41 to return tol its initial position,

pawl 47 holding the pusher in its advanced position. During this return movement, an unnotchedportion Yof rack bar 41 contacts with pawl 46 and the secondnoteh inthe lrack bar passes just behind pawl 46. In the next operation, the second notch in the rack bar 41 engages pawl 46 and advances the pusher until pawl 47 engages the second notch in rack 60. Thus, the pusher is ad'- vanced step-by-step, ejecting a package for each operation until the last package is ejected and pawl 47 has engaged the last notch in rack 60 where it remains until the machine'is unlocked and the pusher returned to its initial position and the magazine is again filled.

In order to compel the hand wheel 8 and receiver 6 to be turned inthe properdirection, namely to the right, locking pawls 63 and 64 are provided. These pawls are pivoted on the upper side of plate 10 beneath the hand wheel 8 and are arranged to engage the toothed Collar 65 carried on spindle 7. Only the upper one of these pawls works at one time, the lower pawl dropping by gravity out of working position. By means of these pawls, or the one which is operating for the time being, the forward movement of a coin in the coin-carrier must be completed when once b^gun before a reverse movement can be effected. This prevents to-and-fro movement of the coin-carrier, which might otherwise be made for the purpose of discharging more than one package for said coin.

In order to prevent the insertion of a coin when the magazine is Vempty and the consequent loss of the coin to its owner, means are provided for closing theV coin slot after .the last` package is ejected and keeping it Closed until the magazine is refilled. In the present embodiment of this feature. a closure 66 is carried on the upper face of plate 1 and mounted on a pivot pin 67. The closure plate 66 is provided with teeth 63 which engage corresponding teeth in a rack bar 69 which is provided at its free end with an upturned lug 70 which passes upward through a slot 7l eut in plate 9. lVhen the pusher completes its final step and ejects the last package, its part 40 strikes the lug 70 thereby shifting rack bar 69'to the right and swinging closure 66 over the mouth of coin slot 2. Rack bar 69 and closure 66 remain in this position until the pusher is moved backward for the reilling of the magazine whereupon spring 72 retracts the closure and its rack bar. 73 is a closure for the coin receptacle 5. It consists of a fiat metal plate pivoted on a pin 74 secured to plate 1. This pin enters a slot 75 in the plate in order that the plate may have a slight longitudinal movement sufficient to disengage its lug 76 'from the receiving notch formed in the plate` 1, The plate 73 is pressed downward into locking position by a spring 77 and it is held locked in that position by a bolt 78 operated by the lock 79. When the bolt 7 S is retracted by inserting a key in the lock, the plate T3 may be moved upward by application of the linger to the lug S0 to disengage its lug 76 and may be then swung outward whereupon the coins may be extracted. The structural arrangement of the locking bolt 7S and its operation will be best understood by reference to the lock Si which operates in connection with the closure 82 for coin receptacle 4. The lock 81 contains a bolt 83 having tumblers arranged to be thrown by the key Si. The under side of bolt 83 is provided with a diagonal slot 85 in which works a pin carried by the transverse bolt S6. lVhen key 8i is inserted in the lock, it frees the tumblers and moves inwardthe bolt 83 which thereupon retracts bolt S6 to unlock closure 82. The lock 79 and its bolt 78 are similarly/'constructed and arranged. Bolt 83 is utilized to also lock the top plate 11 in place, the removal of this plate giving access to the interior for filling the magazines and for repairs, adjustments, etc. The inner end of bolt 83 is provided with an upturned lug 87 which projects upward through an opening 8S in plate S) and through opening 89 in plate 10. lVhen the several plates are in locked position, lock S7 is in engagement with lug 90 secured to late 11 on its under side. as shown in Fig. 7. lVhen lock 81 is unlocked. bolt S3 is moved inward so that its lug 87 disengages lug 90. This permits plate l1 to be shifted slightly to the right so as to disengage its lugs 13 and 14 from engagement with plate 10, as shown in Figs. S and 9. lVhen plate l1 is locked in position by lug 87, it cannot be shifted to the right and is therefore kept locked to plate 1.

Coin slot 3 has a closure 92 and an operating rod 93 arranged and operating in a manner similar to the closure G6 and its operating rod 69, Magazine 28 is constructed and arranged in a manner similar to magazine 27 and has associated with it a reciprocating rack bar 94: and stationary rack 95 with shifting lever 9G and locking lever 97 constructed and operated in a manner similar to the corresponding parts heretofore described and associated with magazine 27.

The machine may be fastened in position by screws passing through holes 9S countersunk in the bottom plate l. 1V hen in position, one of its coin slots opens upward so as to receive the coins by which the operation of the machine is to be effected. If the machine is fastened to the back of a car seat and the back is turned so that the seat faces in the opposite direction, then the other coin slot will open upward to receive the coins.

Vhile I have shown the invention in what I believe to be its simplest and most compact form, it is to be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the claims.

What is claimed and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is l. In a vending machine; the combination of a magazine; a pusher working in said magazine and provided with a pawl; an actuator for advancing said pusher step by step; a stationary rack to be engaged by the pawl of said pusher and prevent retrograde movement thereof; and means adapted to operate said actuator.

2. In a vending machine, the combination of a magazine; a pusher working in said magazine and provided with two pawls; an actuator for advancing said pusher step by step and comprising a reciprocating rack bar to engage one of said pawls; a stationary rack to be engaged by the other of said pawls to prevent retrograde movement of said pusher; and means adapted to operate said actuator.

3. In a vending machine, the combination of a magazine; a pusher working in said magazine and provided with a pawl; an actuator for advancing said pusher step by step; a lock for said actuator; a stationary rack to be engaged by the pawl of said pusher and prevent retrograde movement thereof; and means adapted to unlock and operate said actuator.

el. In a vending machine, the combination of a magazine; a pusher working in said magazine and provided with two pawls; an actuator for advancing said pusher step by step and comprising a reciprocating rack bar to engage one of said pawls: a lock for said actuator; a stationary rack to be engaged by the other of said pawis to prevent retrograde movement of said pusher; and means adapted to unlock and operate said actuator.

5. A vending machine having a magazine at the top and a separate magazine at the bottom, said magazines being oppositely arranged, a delivery-chute leading from each magazine V.to the "outside of the machine, the

.machine being reversible to bring either magazine into operative position, and mechanism yassociated `with each magazine 4for delivering the articles therefrom.

6. A vending machine having a magazine at the top and a separate magazine at the bottom, said magazines being oppositely arranged, a ldelivery chute leading from each magazine to the outside of the machine, the machine being reversible to bring either magazine into operative position, mechanism associated with each magazine for delivering the articles therefrom, and a common hand-operated member for operating :both of said mechanisms.

7. A vending machine having a substantially rectangular casing, a central recess provided in the front Wallv of said casing, a magazine arranged Within said casing, an open delivery-chute leading from said magazine to said recess, mechanism for delivering the articles `romsai'd magazine into said chute, and a hand-operated member arranged in said recess for actuating said mechanism.

8. A vending machine having a substantially rectangular casing, a central recess provided in the front Wall of said casing and having' an opening at one side, a horizontal magazine arranged Within said casing and having` an opening at one end to permit discharge of the vendable articles, a curved delivery-chute leading from the open end of said magazine inwardly to the said opening in said recess, mechanism lor delivering the articles from said magazine into said chute, and means for operating said mechanism.

9. A vending machine having a. substantially rectangular casing, a central recess provided in the front wall ot said casing, a magazine arranged within the casing above said recess, a second magazine arranged within the casingbelow said recess, said magazines being oppositely arranged, the machine being .reversible to bring either magazine into operative position, a pair of o-ppositelv'arranged delivery-chutes leading trom said magazines to opposite sides ot said recess, mechanism associated With each magazine to cause delivery of the vendablc articles, and means for actuating said mechanisms.

10. A vending machine having a substantially rectangular casing. a central recess provided in the front Wall of said casing, a magazine arranged within the casing above said recess, a second magazine arranged Within the casing below said recess. said magazines being oppositely arranged. the machine being reversible to bring either magazine into operative position. a pair of oppositclv arranged delivery-chutes leading from .said magazines to opposite sides of said recess, 'mechanism associated with each magazine to cause delivery of the vendable articlcs,'and a single hand-operated member located in said recess for actuating Vboth-of said mechanisms.

l1. A vending machine having a magazine at the top and a separate magazine at the bottom, said magazines being oppositely arranged, a separate delivery-opening leading from each magazine to the outside of theV `ing from each magazine to the outside of the machine, the machine being reversible to Vbring either magazine lntooperative position, a pusher Working in each magazine,

mechanism 'associated with each pusher forl advancing the same step by step, and a common hand-operated member for actuating each of said mechanisms.

13. A vending machine having a magazine at the top and a magazine at the bottom, said magazines being oppositely arranged, a separate delivery-opening leading from each magazine to the outside of the machine, the machine ybeing reversibleV to bring either magazine into operative position, a pusher working in each magazine, and means common to both pushers for advancing the same separately step by step.

14. A vending machine having a magazine at the top and a magazine at the bottom, said magazines beingy oppositely arranged, a separate delivery-opening leading from each magazine to the outside of the machine, the machine being reversible rto bring either magazine into operative position, a pusher Working in each magazine, mechanism associated with each pusher for advancing the same step by step, and rotatable means arranged between said magazines for operating each ot said mechanisms.

15. InV a vending machine, the combination of a magazine, a pusher' adapted to Work in said magazine for causing delivery of the articles, a stationary rack bar and a reciprocating rack bar provided with teeth arranged Vin staggered relationmeans for actuating said reciprocating rack bar, and a guide piece on said pusher adapted to engage said rack bars, whereby the reciprocating rack bar actuates the pusher forwardly step by step, While the stationary rack bar prevents retrograde movement of the pusher. i

16. In avending machine, the combination of a horizontal.'magazine,. a horizontal recess arranged to one side of said maga-- zine, a reciprocatingV member operable Within said recess, a guide piece arranged Within said recess and adapted to be engaged by said member for step by step movement forwardly, means for preventing retrograde movement of said guide piece, and a pusher extending laterally from said guide piece and adapted to operate Within said magazine to cause delivery of the vendable articles.

17. A vending machine provided with tivo separate magazines oppositely arranged. so that only onemagazine can be in operativo position at a time, the machine being;- reversible to bring either magazine into operative position, mechanism associated with each magazine for delivering the articles therefrom, and Common handoperated means for actuating both of said mechanisms.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN A. VEBSTER.

Witnesses:

CHESTER I. NEAL, BEATRICE MIRvIs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents, Washington, D. C. 

